Automobile fender guide



April 14, 1953 H, B. HAWES AUTOMOBILE FENDER GUIDE? Filed March 9, 1950 HAROLD E1. HAWBEI Patented Apr. 14,1953

AUTOMOBILE FENDER GUIDE Harold B- Hawes, Bridgeport,- Oonn., assignor to Norco of Bridgeport, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 9, 1950, Serial No. 148,699

2 Claims. (CL 248-43) The present invention relates to a fender guide, and particularly to an improved bracket structure for effectually securing the guide to the fender, an object of the invention being to provide a bracket which is adapted to be firmly secured in contiguous relation to the lower flanged or channeled edge of the fender, whether such edge be horizontal, inclined, or curved, it being particularly proposed to provide a bracket which wedgingly engages the inner surface of the fender, without, however, engaging the edge flange or channel provided thereon. A further object is to provide adjustable means for supporting the upright shaft of the. guide, and

whereby such shaft may be adjusted into a vertical position, irrespective of the angular position of the bracket upon the fender. The fenders of modern automobiles are very often provided with projecting decorative strips which project beyond the line of the lower edge of the fender, and are also in some cases bulged out or projected beyond such edge, and it is an object of the invention to provide means for the outward or inward adjustment of the shaft of the fender guide so that the shaft may be disposed out of contact with any projecting surface of the fender above the lower bead edge.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the fender guide, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the same being shown attached contiguous to the lower edge of the fender, the latter being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an outer end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken alon the line -55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the several parts of the fender guide in separated relation.

Similar reference characters indicate corre- 'sponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the fender guide, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a bracket member l0 having a vertical outer end portion ll,

provided at its inner side with a protective pad Ila of leather or the like, adapted to engage the outer surface of the fender l2 contiguous to the channel flange [3 at its lower edge, a-horizontal base'portion l4, adapted to extend beneath the channel flange and to project inwardly, and a rearward end portion I5, curved upwardly and forwardly, upon a suitable radius-to provide an inner cylindrical bearing surface for the clamping member, as will presently more fully appear. A longitudinally disposed bolt-receiving slot I6 is provided along the center line of the base portion [4 relatively near the rearward end portion I5, and, forwardly of the slot and in longitudinal line therewith, the base portion is provided with a longitudinal downwardly projecting rib I! formed by depressing the base portion at its upper side. a

The clamping member I8 comprises a longitudinally extending top portion l9, preferably of corresponding width to the bracket member Ill, having at its rearward end a downwardly and forwardly curved fulcrum portion 20, the outer surface of which is correspondingly curved to the inner surface of the rearward end portion 15 of the bracket member, so that it may have rotatable engagement therewith to enable the clamping member to swing about the radius center of the inner curved surface of the portion [5. At the forward end of the clamping member there is provided a downwardly and rearwardly curved end portion 2|, adapted to wedgingly engage at its outer side with the inner surface of the fender at a point substantially above the horizontal portion of the channel flange l3 and in substantially spaced relation to its vertical portion, so that there will be no interference in the wedging clamping action through contact with the channel flange. Thus as clamping pressure is applied to the clamping plate, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the clamping member engages the inner surface of the fender with a wedging action thus drawing the forward vertical portion I l inwardly against the outer surface of the fender and firmly holding the horizontal base portion l4 against the underside of the channel flange. The engagement of the vertical forward portion I l with the vertical surface of the fender prevents relative tilting movement of the bracket, so that an effectual clamping action takes place, rigidly fixing the position of the bracket without the necessity for wedging engagement of the clamping member with the channel flange or with a bead edge as is required with certain previous types of clamping brackets, the clamping action ber over a wide range, while the clamping bolt.

remains vertically disposed as will presently more fully appear. A longitudinally adjustable shaft supporting arm member 2 3 is secured to the underside of they bracket member and comprises a horizontal portion 25, of corresponding width to the bracket member ID, and a forward upwardly extending and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fender guide supporting bracket for attachment contiguous to the lower edge of an automobile fender, comprising a bracket member including an upright forward portion adapted to be disposed at the outer side of the fender,

. a horizontal base portion adapted to engage beneath and extend inwardly from the lower edge portion 26. The horizontal portion 25 is. provided near its rearward end with a centrally disposed longitudinal bolt-receiving slot 21, somewhat longer than the slot I5 of'the bracketmember andadapted to register therewith, and forwardly of the slot in longitudinal line therewith there .is provided a longitudinal groove 28 in which the longitudinal rib I! of the bracket member is adapted to engageto permit relative longitudinal shifting movement of the arm while restraining relative transverse or pivotal movement.

The clamping bolt 28 provided with a head 39 l is engaged upwardly through the slots l3 and v2'! or" the arm and bracket members and through the hole 23 of the clamping member, and is .screwed into the threaded hole 31 of a nut 32 in theform of a cylindrical bar, preferably cor responding in length to the width of the clamping member 13 and which is adapted to seat in the transverse recess 22. Upon tightening the bolt the nut draws the clamping member downwardly into clamping engagement with the inner shaft sup-portin clip inember 33, formed of a piece of sheet metal bent upon itself to provide a loop portion 34, in which the lower end of the shaft 35 of the fender guide 35 is clampingly engaged, and superimposed ear portions 3.! and 38 provided with registering holes 39 and 10, in

which is engaged a headed screw d1 screwed into a threaded hole 42 provided in the forward end portion 3.5 of the shaft supporting arm member 24. A friction washer 43, of leather or similar material, is interposed between the clip member 33 and the vertical portion .25 and permits tightening of the screw to fix the position of adjustment of the shaft 35. Thus in the event that the bracket is clamped to a curved or inclined-portion of the lower edge of the fender, the shaft may :be adjusted into a vertical position. The outer and inward adjustment of the arm member 34 permits the shaft to be disposed at any desired outward spacing from the fender surface, so that it will clear any projection of the fender above the bead, such for instance as the projecting decorative strip 44.

.In have illustrated and described a preferred receiving slot, a clamping member cooperatively connected to said bracket member including a longitudinal top portion having a bolt-receiving hole, and a fender engaging portion, an arm member including a horizontal base portion slidably engaged with the under side of said bracket member for inward and outward adjustment and having a bolt-receiving slot adapted to register with said bolt-receiving slot of said bracket member, and a forward end portion disposed outwardly of said upright forward portion of said bracket member, a bolt having a head at its lower end and engaged upwardly through said slots of said arm and bracket members and through said hole of said clamping member, a nut member engaged with the upper side of said clamping member and engaged by said bolt, a shaft supporting member, and means pivotally connecting said shaft supporting member to said forward end portion of said arm member for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis.

2. A fender guide supporting bracket for attachment contiguous to the lower edge of an automobile fender, comprising a bracket member including an upright forward portion adapted to be disposed at the outer side of the fender, a base portion adapted to engage beneath and extend inwardly from the lower edge of the fender, said base portion having a longitudinal boltreceiving slot and a longitudinal guide rib at its under side, a clamping member cooperatively connected-to said bracket member including a longitudinal top-portion having a bolt-receiving hole, and a fender engaging portion, an arm member including a horizontal base portion having a bolt-receiving slot adapted to register with said bolt-receiving slot of said bracket member and a longitudinal guide groove adapted to be engaged by said guide rib of said bracket member for inward and outward adjustment, and a forward end portion, a bolt having a head at its lower end and engaged upwardly through said slots of said arm and bracket members and through-said hole of said clamping member, a nut member engaged with the upper side of said clamping member and engaged by said bolt, a shaft supporting member, and means pivotally connecting saidshaft supporting member to said forward end portion of aid arm member for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis.

HAROLD B. HAWES.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

